# Flight booking hack that seems brilliant to me - am I overlooking anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2018, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955 "2018-03-21T12:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/21 "2018-03-21T17:16:33Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not that they’d feel guilty, but that they gladly switch to get a window or aisle. When we’ve done that, the person seems quite happy. I bet they would have been just as happy if they’d been able to choose a window or aisle seat in the first place if not for the “hack” of you trying to score a whole row to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/22 "2018-03-21T17:26:25Z")
We always book two aisle seats across from each other, mostly because we both like aisle seats. We can talk if we need to, but hell, we live together, we don’t necessarily have to talk much on a flight. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/23 "2018-03-21T17:30:58Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I bet they would have been just as happy if they’d been able to choose a window or aisle seat in the first place if not for the “hack” of you trying to score a whole row to yourself. Perhaps but chances are that would have been gone, so nice bonus for the late booker, who might be even able to chose what side he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/24 "2018-03-21T17:53:42Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > We always book two aisle seats across from each other, mostly because we both like aisle seats. We can talk if we need to, but hell, we live together, we don’t necessarily have to talk much on a flight. We fly a lot of red eyes and long haul flights, so the ability to sleep while leaning on your spouse’s shoulder is a big plus. We also often watch movies together. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/25 "2018-03-21T18:08:36Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Perhaps but chances are that would have been gone, so nice bonus for the late booker, who might be even able to chose what side he wants. So now this hack is actually doing other people a favour? Oy vey. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/26 "2018-03-21T18:13:04Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So now this hack is actually doing other people a favour? Oy vey. I know I appreciate a window or aisle much more when I _thought_ I was getting stuck in the middle. Really, I’ve never seen anything other than pure joy when we have offered to switch. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/27 "2018-03-21T18:16:00Z")
When given the choice, my wife and I would always pick two aisle seats across from each other. Now we have a baby and it’s best to be next to each other to tag team. In any case, you can’t count on an empty seat, and there’re no “good” seating options on the flying sardine cans they call airliners. Suck it up, and don’t talk to me. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/28 "2018-03-21T18:35:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I know I appreciate a window or aisle much more when I _thought_ I was getting stuck in the middle. Really, I’ve never seen anything other than pure joy when we have offered to switch. So how about the couple that booked late and had to take two middle seats? And the fact remains, the single got stuck in the middle because mmm wanted a chance to sprawl out across the entire row. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/29 "2018-03-21T18:44:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So how about the couple that booked late and had to take two middle seats? And the fact remains, the single got stuck in the middle because mmm wanted a chance to sprawl out across the entire row. That couple would have had to take a middle and an aisle/window seat if you didn’t use this booking trick. If two couples play this game with the last 2 empty rows on the plane, a third couple would still end up being split across two rows. There’s no way this booking hack hurts others unless they like middle seats and resent being asked to move to the aisle or window. And even then they can just say no. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/30 "2018-03-21T18:58:33Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > …And the fact remains, the single got stuck in the middle because mmm wanted a chance to sprawl out across the entire row. I know you’re hell-bent on disagreeing, but this last post convinces me that you just don’t get it. The only way the single would get “stuck in the middle” is if he or she declined my offer of the aisle or window seat. mmm ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/31 "2018-03-21T21:05:45Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I know you’re hell-bent on disagreeing, but this last post convinces me that you just don’t get it. > > The only way the single would get “stuck in the middle” is if he or she declined my offer of the aisle or window seat. > mmm I guess you’re hellbent on disagreeing with me too. I have no idea why you think I don’t get it. I do. You are claiming two seats that people prefer hoping to get a free seat in the middle and know that if the seat fills up you’ll still get to sit together because middle guy will likely comply with a seat trade. Pretty simple. You just seem to think it doesn’t adversely affect other people’s choices of seats when it obviously does. All I said is that it seems kind of jerky. Like a guy going into a movie theatre and putting his coat on the seat in front of him but it’s cool cuz he’ll move it if anyone asks. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/32 "2018-03-21T21:19:08Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I guess you’re hellbent on disagreeing with me too. I have no idea why you think I don’t get it. I do. You are claiming two seats that people prefer hoping to get a free seat in the middle and know that if the seat fills up you’ll still get to sit together because middle guy will likely comply with a seat trade. Pretty simple. You just seem to think it doesn’t adversely affect other people’s choices of seats when it obviously does. > > All I said is that it seems kind of jerky. Like a guy going into a movie theatre and putting his coat on the seat in front of him but it’s cool cuz he’ll move it if anyone asks. Except anyone flying Basic Economy doesn’t get to choose their seat at all. So there’s a good chance that the empty seat between a couple is going to be filled by one of those passengers. I imagine they are thrilled at the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/33 "2018-03-21T21:20:41Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I guess you’re hellbent on disagreeing with me too. I have no idea why you think I don’t get it. I do. You are claiming two seats that people prefer hoping to get a free seat in the middle and know that if the seat fills up you’ll still get to sit together because middle guy will likely comply with a seat trade. Pretty simple. You just seem to think it doesn’t adversely affect other people’s choices of seats when it obviously does. > > All I said is that it seems kind of jerky. Like a guy going into a movie theatre and putting his coat on the seat in front of him but it’s cool cuz he’ll move it if anyone asks. I think this is what you are missing: The latecomer gets \*three \*choices: aisle, middle, or window. He is not “stuck with” anything. mmm ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/34 "2018-03-21T21:22:13Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Except anyone flying Basic Economy doesn’t get to choose their seat at all. So there’s a good chance that the empty seat between a couple is going to be filled by one of those passengers. I imagine they are thrilled at the outcome. Except that you couldn’t do this "hack’ in the first place in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/35 "2018-03-21T21:22:41Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Except anyone flying Basic Economy doesn’t get to choose their seat at all. So there’s a good chance that the empty seat between a couple is going to be filled by one of those passengers. I imagine they are thrilled at the outcome. Read the OP. mmm ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/36 "2018-03-21T21:40:47Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Except that you couldn’t do this "hack’ in the first place in that case. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Read the OP. > mmm For the big three domestic carriers there are two types of economy tickets. Basic Economy: can’t pick seat, it’s assigned at check in. Economy: get to pick your seat. The couple using the OP’s “hack” buy economy tickets and pick their seats. Basic Economy gets assigned their seat (probably middle) at check-in. Of course, there is a chance that someone might pay for an economy ticket but is late enough buying that there are just middle seats left. But they may just as easily get stuck between two strangers and no chance to swap at all. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/37 "2018-03-21T22:09:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I think this is what you are missing: The latecomer gets \*three \*choices: aisle, middle, or window. > > He is not “stuck with” anything. > mmm I get that. Do you get that if every couple did this it would fuck up the seating choices for other couples and groups of three? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/38 "2018-03-21T22:53:01Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I get that. Do you get that if every couple did this it would fuck up the seating choices for other couples and groups of three? No, because whether you take the window/aisle, window/middle, or middle/aisle, every other couple gets the exact same choice. There is NO DOWNSIDE to other passengers, and in fact there is an upside in that they are more likely to get a choice of window or aisle. If you are the 21st couple selecting seats on a plane with 20 rows, you simply aren’t getting two seats together. It doesn’t matter how the other 20 couples select their two seats. If solo passengers don’t want to take the middle seat because people used this hack, they’ll take a single seat in another row, leaving two seats for other couples. They’re going to pick window or aisle, leaving two seats together for couples. Yes, you can probably come up with a scenario where groups of 3 have fewer choices, but large groups always have faced this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/39 "2018-03-21T23:01:55Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Huh? As said previously in this thread, you generally get to pick your seats when you buy your tickets, so families should be able to get seats together if they’re available. And if they’re not available because the plane is nearly full, I don’t see how airlines become responsible for moving already booked passengers because later groups want to sit together. Look at my user name. I spend about 20 hours a week flying, so I am familiar with booking. That said, I have had the experience (as a premium member!) while flying with my family of having our chosen seats changed by the airline while we were at the gate, and being seated apart. No amount of WTF protestations changed the airlines mind. So, it happens. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955/40 "2018-03-21T23:03:44Z")
The only situation where I can see this being a bit rude is if the person had a preference for specific _rows_ (near the bathrooms for quicker access, near the wings for a quicker cleaner death if the fuel tanks explode) and they were driven away from their preferred rows because they erroneously believed that by taking the remaining seat in them they would be forced to sit in the undesirable middle seat. So if you’re going to do this little trick you should try and pick the worst row possible to do it in, or you’re being kind of a dick. Well, beyond the level of dickishness imparted just by the fact you’re being deceptive/manipulative. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-booking-hack-that-seems-brilliant-to-me-am-i-overlooking-anything/810955.md?page=3)